FIRST THINGS FIRST: LEONARDO DICAPRIO FOUNDATION

LEONARDO DICAPRIO FOUNDATION

Putting a lot of his money where his very big heart is, Leonardo DiCaprio has recently pledged a record donation to help save and protect our natural world. The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation (LDF) recently awarded the largest portfolio of environmental grants in the foundation's history.

LDF is dedicated to the long-term health and wellbeing of all Earth’s inhabitants. Through collaborative partnerships, they support innovative projects that protect vulnerable wildlife from extinction, restore balance to threatened ecosystems, and support indigenous communities. LDF's grantmaking program encompasses six focus areas:

The foundation recently awarded a total of $15.6 million in grants, including $7,631,508 for wildlife and habitat conservation; $2,525,000 for ocean conservation; $2,100,000 to protect indigenous rights; $2,085,000 to support innovative solutions to the world's problems; and $1,300,000 to combat climate change.

Since it was founded, in 1998, LDF has provided more than $59 million to these important causes.

“Clean air, water, and a livable climate are inalienable human rights. And solving this crisis is not a question of politics, it is a question of our own survival.”

-- LEONARDO DICAPRIO

By greatly increasing its level of vital grant making and strategic partnerships LDF is aiming to help solve some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges.

LDF supports more than 70 environmental projects more than 40 countries and 5 oceans.

The grant recipients for this latest round of funding include:

• Elephant Crisis Fund
• Lion Recovery Fund
• Mkomazi Rhino Sanctuary
• Maasai Wilderness Conservation Fund

• Turtle Conservancy
• Naturalia

• California Mountain Lion Conservation
• World Wildlife Fund
• Pacific Wolf Coalition
• Defenders of Wildlife
• International Fund for Animal Welfare

• Oceans 5
• Global Partnerships for Sharks Fund
• Utah Dine Bikeyah

• RAVEN
• United Tribes of Bristol Bay
• Wishtoyo Foundation
• Amazon Watch

• Digital Democracy
• Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund
• Mongabay
• Waterkeeper Alliance
• Water Defense

• Bioneers
• Biomimicry Institute
• Earthecho International
• People's Grocery

• Our Children's Trust
• DeSmogBlog
• Empowered By Light
• TreePeople
• Native Renewables

Read more about Beautiful Firsts in  Heavenly New Escapes and  Beautiful Breakthrough Cures: CRISPR.

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IMAGE LIST:

1. Image: Courtesy of California Mountain Lion Conservation. Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation grantee.
2. Image: Courtesy of Maasai Wilderness Foundation. Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation grantee.
3. Image: by Keith Ellenbogen of Conservation International. Courtesy of Oceans 5. Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation grantee.
4. Image: Courtesy of Lion Recovery Fund. Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation grantee.
5. Image: Courtesy of International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation grantee.
6. Image: Courtesy of Turtle Conservancy. Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation grantee.
7. Image: Courtesy of Pacific Wolf Foundation. Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation grantee.
8. Image: Whale tail. Oceans 5. Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation grantee.
9. Image: by Martin Harvey. Southern white rhinoceros adult and calf. Courtesy of World Wildlife Fund. Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation grantee.
10. Image: Cheetah mother and cubs. Courtesy of World Wildlife Fund. Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation grantee.
11. Image: “Moss, the ‘coral reefs of the forest.’” Courtesy of Biomimicry Institute. Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation grantee.
12. Image: Courtesy of Empowered by Light. Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation grantee.
13. Image: Courtesy of Oceans 5. Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation grantee.
14. Image: Courtesy of Turtle Conservancy. Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation grantee.
15. Image: by Eli Duke. “Oahu: Walking Around Haleiwa.”
16. Image: Courtesy of World Wildlife Fund. Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation grantee.